Train-service coupling.



.train-pi 'ws used for air-brakes. and has for tel to illustrate the wiring.

the. couplin UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT J; CAMPBELL, OF MARION, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO NELLIE KITCHING, OF MARION,

IOWA.

TRAIN-SERVICE COUPLING.

Application filed April 20, 1918.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I. ALBERT J. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the I'nited States. residingat Marion. in the county of Linn and State of Iowa. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lrain-Service Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full. clear. and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates more particularly to its object to provide means in connection with said pipes \\'hereb telephonic comn'iunication may be had from end to end of the train.

The invention embodies certain improvements in the device for which Letters Iatent No. 1,169.45!) were issued to me on the 25th da v of Januarv. 191(3. and to which reference may be had.

The specific objectof this invention is to pr vide for a complete electrical circuit by wa v of the train pipe. instead of. as in the former patentf'dcpendmg upon ground connections to complete the circuit.

The full nature of the invention is disclosed in the description and claims following, reference. being had to the accompany.

ing drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a coupling embodying my invention one of the heads being shown in exterior outline and the other mainl in section. the bead shown in section in Fig. 1, with the central packing ring in position. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary \l(\\' of the same. with out said ring, and partly in section, the bet t his view of the inner sidefitf l'l1e.el qtclfiiirmber shown in- Fig.

In thedrawing. the numeral 1 denotes the flexible portion of a train-pipe such as supplies air for the .operation ot the brakes. 'lhis pipe is provided at. its free end with a head I. which with the attached part 3 to be described presently forms one halt ol 'lhcsc interlock to couple by being placed side by side and given about a quarter turn. in a manner lamiliar to all .trainmcn. By this action the extension flange 4. passes on the inner'sitle ot' the keeper 5. and with a Wedging action tending'to force the halves of the coupling into Specification of Letters Patent.

which constitutes the half of Fig. 2 is a side view ot" thereon as to make air-tight joints.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918. Serial No. 229,720.

close contact. This does not differ in any important respect from the action of conplings in general useoand needs no particular description. except as will appear hereafter.

In my improved couplin the part 3. which may for convenience be, called the knuckle, is a separate part from the one. attached to the pipe. and is carefully in sulated therefrom. Between the flat faces of the parts'is interposed apiece of insulation 6, such 'as wood fiber, and through this and the adjacent parts pass bolts 7. These too are suitably insulated. as b v thimbles H and washers 9, so that no current can short circuit from one part to the other. There is also left a gap between the rear end of the part 3 and the expanded tubular portion of the other member. and which is designated by the numeral 10. lVherc corre sponding heads join to make the air-tight.- pipe union. slightl vliexible rubber rings 3 serve "the double purpose of gaskets and for insulation.

Tn each complete head so formed, and a complete cou pling. is seated a pair of conducting wires 11 and 12. the former passin thrtmgh a cored passageway '13 and out tiirough a hole 14 to the inner side of the. flange t, and uniting by branches with copper terminals 15 whose heads project a little wa v from the outer face of said flange. through a passageway 16 in the knuckle to a copper terminal 17, which when the parts are in coupled position makes contact with one or both of the terminals above described. The in ulattuh w'ires pass back through grooves in the. tubular portions of the heads to the insides of the pipes, and are supposed to run from head to head at opposite ends of the cars. it will of course be understood that when the terminal hose-pipes 1 are secured to the heads they are drawn so firmly The effect of this construction is to. pr,ovide a double line of wires, which may (txtend from end to end of a irain and which may be employed tor eonnmtin the ends of the train by telephone, the at vantage of which is clearly set forth in the former patent. above referred to. The advantage of this special construction 'is that it dispenses with any ground connection, and thus eliminates the noise that might be incident to such- The other conductor is ledt construction. It also avoids the possibility of short-circuitin the telephone by power currents or signa currents passing through the rails, and which might prove injurious to the telephone or the operator.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

'1. Combined Witha train-pipe, terminal headstherefor comprising in each an air-passage member and a separate locking knuckle attached thereto and electrically insulated therefrom, and duplicated electrical eon ductors .leadin from eacli knuckle at one end of the service pipe to the other member at the other end thereof substantially as and ,for the purpose set forth.

2. Combined with a train-pipe, a head for I each end theredf, cmfi n-ising an air-passage member, an attached knuckle and interposed insulation, conductors leading independently to terminal contact-plates disposed in staggered relation, so as to give double contact when tlieheads are coupled, and terminal contacts so disposed on the aim-passage member and the attached knuckle, respectively.

3. Combined with a train-pipe, a head for each end thereof, comprising an air-passage member cored for an electric conductor, an adjacent knuckle similarly cored, insulation separating the two members electrically, independent. conductors in said cored passages, and contact terminals therefor, Said terminals being disposed in staggered order, whereby in couplin a pair of heads the terminals of the air-passage member and the lnmcklemember, each side, are respectively brought into contact.

In testimon Y whereof I aflix in presence 0 two wiriesses.

ALBERT J. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

A. T. COOPER, J. M. ST. JOHN.

my signature 

